Mexico and Central America 1960 CE

What is happening in Mexico and Central America in 1960CE

After several years of chaos, Venustiano Carranza seized power in Mexico and carried through important social reforms, particularly land redistribution. After his assassination in 1920, his work was continued by his successors,  presidents Obregon (1920-24) and Calles (1924-8). Reformist governments continued to bring about much-needed changes in the country, above all under presidents Lazaro Cardenas (1934-46) and Valdes (1946-52).

In Central America, the US dominance of the region – economic, political and military – provoked guerilla activity, later to bear fruit in the Sandanista movement in Nicaragua. The Great Depression of the 1930s led to even higher levels of instability, including war between Guatamala and Honduras and the coming to power of dictatorships in most of the countries.

Since World War 2 the social and political turmoil of the region has turned it effectively into a battle ground between the rival superpowers, the USA and the USSR, with scant regard paid to the interests of the common people.

Next map, Mexico and Central America in 2005